Weaknesses:
Possible filter hold down cap vibrating loose and hold down bolt cutting brass threads in the hold down cap into tiny bits. Bits suck into engine. Filter cap needs a longer hold down bolt with a secure nut on top the cap or something. Dealer provided new parts, saying Echo felt the particles were not sucked into the engine. My reply was that the particles were scattered inside the filter area. How could some have not went through the engine? I have used two tanks of fuel and it still runs and cuts fine. But the filter cap vibrated loose in that length of time. The dealer had tightened the filter cap.

Summary:
Can't go wrong with this saw if you're looking for a reliable, fast limbing saw.

Strengths:
Reliable, well balanced, fast handling limbing saw with 16" B&C, good anti-vibe system, with nice power levels. One of the best handling saws out there in my opinion. Has never failed to start.

Summary:
great saw, a lot more power for the money and a true prof. grade saw.

Strengths:
strong saw,plenty of power. I own a sthil ms 361,older echo 440 evl, and a stihl 440.This saw by far is one of the most reliable and economical to buy and run thus far.I only cut about 10 cord a year but soo far soo good.

Summary:
I'm going with a Stihl MS 660 next. That should pull a 20-32" bar properly. I can't express how disappointed I am with the power of this saw. While the build quality seems good, it just doesn't cut the mustard. I've been using saws for over 20 years and I just can't say this is worth the $400.00 I spent on it. It should be a $200.00 saw.

Strengths:
Easy to start. Idles without stalling.

Weaknesses:
Low power for a 50cc saw. This saw can barely pull a 20" bar. In fact it needs to be nursed through a 12" log! Does not seem to come into it's peak powerband very often. I had a cheap Homelite that cut wood just as fast for 1/3rd the price. I'm going to try a 16" bar on it, that's what it should be sold with. Maybe with carb/exhaust mods it will work right, but a new saw sold as a pro-model should perform like one!

Summary:
I usually begin with the echo and after a sort time, pick up my ancient Mc 610 or my old poulan 2300. This saw has been back to the dealer several times, once for a new carb. It has yet to perform as reliably as either of my old saws.

Strengths:
Haven't really noted any.

Weaknesses:
Poor and annoying cold start. Inconsistent power. Bigger saws in same range available for less money.

Summary:
for a sopposed high performance saw it dosnt cut well i have a 30 year old shindowa 520 tiny saw that will out cut it rated with less than have the horse power and still starts after 30 years on the first pull and is magnisum not plastic pron to cracking

Strengths:
easy to start, good power for a modern saw, no smoke and quite for a chainsaw. Echo warrenty is hard to beat. 5 years.

Weaknesses:
chain brake was partially stuck and I had to take apart to free it. Cuts great now, and the brake still works, just doesnt stick.
It is not an old blue homelite xl-101 but no one makes a saw with such great power to weight ratio as the 50 year old blue homelites anymore.

Summary:
Overall construction appears good, would recommend this saw to anyone short of a serious logger. This saw handles best with an 18" or even a 16" bar, ditch the saftey chain for a full chisel chain. If you want to see the saw's potential I'd suggest a Muffler Mod which REALLY brings this saw to life (don't forget to richen up the carb after reducing the muffler restriction).

Strengths:
Light Weight and very dependable

Weaknesses:
Not as much raw power in stock form as some other pro type saws but this is probably the trade off for long term durabilty (higher compression = more power vs. lower compression = longer life).

Summary:
One of the best 50cc saws out there for the money. I have two CS-510's and one CS-520. I heat my shop and house with firewood, and they are my favorite saws for limbing and cutting up small logs.

Strengths:
Excellent power for 50cc. In timed cuts this saw cuts dead even with my Husqvarna 55.
Very efficient. They will cut a LOT of wood on a tank of fuel.

Weaknesses:
Very muffler resticted. Opening up the muffler slightly finds a LOT of additional power from this saw.
The carburetor as delivered is WAY too lean, and not within the range of the limiter caps. Once they were removed, I was able to set the carburetor correctly which made the saw run much better everyplace.
The safety chain they show up with is JUNK. Put a real chain on it and it will cut twice as fast!

Strengths:
good power, smooth operation, I have several friends that have other saws and after using mine they went and bought one. I had a 60+ cotton wood fall on the saw it trashed the bar but the saw would still start and run. It gave me some problems after the but the factory fixed her right up.
good weight on this one can use it all day.

Summary:
This is a great saw AFTER it has been set up properly.
Because they come so lean out of the box, it feels very underpowered.
Here's what you do: take the spark arrestor screen off the muffler. Then take the saw to a good small engine mechanic and have him set the mix screws-should only take him 15mins or so.
Once thats done, it will run like a whole new saw, and by setting the car to run richer, the engine will last longer as well.
After this, my saw easily will hang with my father-in-laws Stihl MS260 pro saw. But not before the steps mentioned.
if you have warranty issues, replace the spark arrestor screen and get new carb mix caps and noone will be the wiser. But this is unlikely to ever happen.

Strengths:
Well built, nicely balanced, starts easily, good on fuel/mix.

Strengths:
great saw I have 3 echo saws 520 670 8000 and 3sthil saws 250 660 088 the 520 is my best saw it has plenty ofpower and is light starts good

Weaknesses:
the only problem has been the carb was back to shop three times befor they got it set right the shop is very poor i have had many things worked on they do not fix many things right echo rep and sthil rep told me to take them to other shops

Strengths:
Cuts better then the stihls I have. had this 520 saw for 5 years never had any probs with it. Had the smaller echo for 18 years. not once has it been in shop exept for tune up. I cut for 3 house holds every weekend for 4 hours sat and 4 hours sun. I mainly use the 520. I get 3 truck loads and 1 15 foot trailer load in 4 hours. I would, and have put the echos up to every thing. It has gone through oak, iron wood and much more. starts on first or second pull every time out in cold. 5 year waranty cant go wrong. Buy the echos for sure!!!!!

Weaknesses:
Muffler burns the front plastic shroud after while. does not affect exept for looks.

Summary:
I traded in a Stihl Farmboss MS290 for this saw, mainly because the Stihl was a bit bigger & heavier than I wanted - this Echo being about 2 lbs lighter yet about the same power.
It does run even a bit more evenly than the excellent Stihl MS 290, with predictable & consistent starting everytime.
This Echo CS-530 is very manuverable, nice ergonomics - with excellent power to weight ratio.
David at Pike Saw & Tool, our local Echo dealer, suggested this saw to be a great, lighter alternative to the MS290 Stihl.
He also performance tuned the saw which helped increase the power greatly.
I deducted two stars on Accessories as it should come with a case, but doesn't. This is hard to understand in a $ 470 saw.
My back up saw, a simple yet effective WalMart Poulan PP4218 came with a nice storage case even though I only paid $ 150 for the whole package.
It seems Echo could provide one, too, given the $$ they charge for the saw.
(Lucky for me, I found an identical orphaned Poulan saw case on the shelf at Lowes that they sold me for $ 5 - and the Echo CS-530 fits perfectly - now it has a case, cool !)

Strengths:
Smooth, free revving, powerful engine. Nice build quality - feels like it will last forever. Love the idea of the full magnesium (metal) engine case.
Easy to use tool-less fuel & lube caps, and nice easy chain adjustment feature.
Engine managment, for idle & throttle response is very nice - best I've seen, with crisp rise to the powerband - very consistent (like fuel injection in a car) running.

Weaknesses:
Not many.
The engine is tuned for more smoothness than mere brute power - but I'm only on about 5 tanks of fuel, maybe 2.5 hours of operation, so power should increase as full break-in occurs.
I think what the poster above said is true, about this engine being purposely engineered oriented towards longevity versus huge peaked powerband at the expense of engine lifespan.

Summary:
I have cut wood for at least 20 years and this saw is a complete disappointment. Spent more time messing with it than running it. It should be sold with a 12 inch bar or smaller no power for anything bigger than limbs. Put this saw into anything bigger than a 8 inch log and you would be better off with a hand saw. Really discouraged with this saw i paid almost 500.00 dollars for that is suppose to be a commerical saw u get nothing with and performs like a cheap saw... WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT.

Strengths:
none,beside start on 2nd or 3rd pull.

Weaknesses:
No power for a 50cc saw. Heat ups fast and then doesn't want to run, and thats with the proper mix.

Summary:
I'm borrowing this saw from a friend. I've spent more time putting the chain back on the saw than using the saw. I can only guess that he bought a shorter bar but didn't replace the chain or that the saw was incorrectly outfitted. I can't get the tensioner to work correctly. I get the saw set up and after less than a minute of use the chain is hanging off the bar. I swear the chain is expanding on every use.

Summary:
I am a small man and hate heavy cumbersome saws that can wear me out in a short time of work. The Echo with its balanced design and flat bottom with streamlined bar side allows one to get down close and when the saw is put down, it doesn't roll on its side, but stays upright. The light weight even with an 18" bar and full of fluids allows less fatigue and more speedy work. With over 28 years of chainsaw use and 24 years of experience with Echo saws, the Jonsered and Husky just don't compare for me.

Strengths:
I bought the saw with a change in sprocket to a size 3/8 pitch and a larger chain and 18 inch bar to handle the 3/8 chain. I wanted the Echo because of a CS4500 I have had for 24 yrs. It too had been set up for a larger chain sprocket, chain and bar and is still wonderful. Even with the new setup it has power to spare and eats through the largest of red oaks. The new CS 520 is light, easy to manipulate in felling and bucking trees. When used correctly there is no kicking back because of its speed.

Weaknesses:
This is the first year with the CS520 but I use it mainly on hard wood and can find no weaknesses at this point. I had held onto the old CS4500 through the years and had two other saws using the CS4500 as back up after many years of use. The other saws I bought never could measure up to the Echo. I can compare this Echo to Jonsered and Husquavana of comperable size. Each time my Echo became the primary saw with the new saws being a backup 2nd saw. Now I have another Echo( Echo CS 520) and It can take the lead.

Summary:
Great saw now. If I bought another one, I would immediately check the exhaust port and adjust as necessary.

Strengths:
Saw would not pull a 20" bar without constantly hanging. I looked at the exhaust port in the muffler, and the total area of the exhaust tube was .09 sq. in. I bored the muffler port out to .11 sq. in. (3/8"), and it made a huge difference in power. Now it pulls through 20" logs without bogging down or hanging.

Weaknesses:
Too small of an exhaust port degrades the saw's true capability.

Strengths:
i have a 520 but a452vl using it for about 20yrs nice and light to handle .Excellent motor never got a bit of bother from it.

Weaknesses:
Only complaint i have is the automatic oiler packed up and i haveto take off the bar and put oil in the slot where oil comes on to the chain and pump it manually to get some suction there actually its like priming it ,That will work for a while it will oil the chain then give up again.Dont know if il have to split the saw to find out whats wrong dont know what kind of setup is inside with oiler.Would be grateful for any suggestions. Regards Michael.

Strengths:
i have a 520 but a452vl using it for about 20yrs nice and light to handle .Excellent motor never got a bit of bother from it.

Weaknesses:
Only complaint i have is the automatic oiler packed up and i haveto take off the bar and put oil in the slot where oil comes on to the chain and pump it manually to get some suction there actually its like priming it ,That will work for a while it will oil the chain then give up again.Dont know if il have to split the saw to find out whats wrong dont know what kind of setup is inside with oiler.Would be grateful for any suggestions. Regards Michael.